Big Download is following up a rumor that Gamestop may be dropping Dawn of War 2 because it is coming bundled with Steam. The objection is allegedly not Steam per se but the requirement that users are required to use the Steam client, which includes a store, in order to play the game.Meanwhile, developer Stardock, which launched a competing platform called Impulse this past Summer is nearing release of its answer to Steamworks called Impulse Reactor. While the two are similar in terms of functionality, Impulse Reactor does not require users to use a client but is, instead, a DLL that can be included with the game and hence does not require someone at Gamestop to become a customer of a competing store to play the game.
Big Download has further reporting:
Earlier this week rumors hit the Internet that game retailer Gamestop had decided to cut sales of the upcoming THQ RTS title Warhammer 40,000 Dawn of War II. Allegedly Gamestop execs were upset the game would install the client software for Steam, the game digital download service and store created by Valve. So far these rumors have yet to be confirmed (and we add that at the moment we are skeptical that Gamestop actually stopped orders for the game because of Steam). However it does illustrate the point that PC gaming is becoming more and more of a digital software download business rather than the standard boxed copy sold at retail and mail order outlets.
So what if you are a developer who wants to be able to have a PC game through both retail stores and digital outlets? Is there some way you can have a balance so one is not competing with the other? Stardock's CEO Brad Wardell says, "Yep!" and is aiming to prove it with a new virtual platform library called Impulse Reactor.
So what if you are a developer who wants to be able to have a PC game through both retail stores and digital outlets? Is there some way you can have a balance so one is not competing with the other? Stardock's CEO Brad Wardell says, "Yep!" and is aiming to prove it with a new virtual platform library called Impulse Reactor.
News source: Big Download
i'll be buying my copy from steam for sure
However, I think retailers are more likely to see a difference between Valve having Steam on its OWN games versus having Steam on third party games.
To use an analogy, I think Blockbuster would have a problem renting videos that required their customer to become a Netflix subscriber in order to watch it.
I think the objection could be solved if Steam didn't require users to create an account and install the Steam client just to play the game.
I think, Steamworks is trying to make various game developers totally dependent of the security scheme they offer them, by playing on their fears of security (total over-kill). How do we, game players know if Steamworks did not completely fabricate the "hacking incident", so that they could scare game developers into totally using their encryption services and software. On the surface, it's plausible, to assume a hacker broke in to their servers to steal vital code for HL2, but the servers that have been available with really good security features, since before HL2, makes using Steam completely unnecessary, also, where were their ITs when this supposedly happened, I just have a really hard time believing this BS. On the other hand they could have completely designed the incident, from start to finish, and just accuse someone of breaking in to their servers (with the proper skillset, this could be accomplished, very easily).
There's to many question marks regarding Steam. I myself, think that Game Stop is on the right track about their decisive stand on this issue (if the rumor is true), also, it's my opinion that people, who think that "Steam is good!" are being completely duped.
Last edited by Dr Cyclops on 25 Jan 2009 - 00:20
Steam is not a resource hog and you can turn off ads. The ads don't even show up in game anyway so wtf are you talking about?
I run non-steam games with steam running to access the friends network and it works flawlessly when the network is up. Are you running Vista with 512MB of ram or something?
The only real concern is what happens to our steam-purchased games when Valve/steam run out of business. This won't happen for an extremely long time.
I've been very disappointed with the direction Steam has taken over the last two years. I don't use their service except for Valve games anymore and I don't like being potentially forced to use it with many others.
...lol
Steam does not in anyway prevent piracy. It has become quite easy to de-steam a game.
He didn't say that, read his comment carefully.
Last edited by Dr Cyclops on 24 Jan 2009 - 23:59
FYI: the existence of Steam, is to prevent piracy. All someone has to do is (usually) DL a game fix. So bryonhowley did respond accurately to the statement.
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